A nervy afternoon for Liverpool but they got the job done in the end, recovering from an awful first half to come from behind and win 2-1. Here’s how it went:
Before the game: The team was pretty much as we all expected, with Dejan Lovren back in the side to replace Ragnar Klavan — the only change from the 5-1 win over Hull.
https://twitter.com/TheAnfieldWrap/status/782166255700762624
8′: The same old set piece problems for Liverpool. A swansea corner was swung into the back post where Borja Baston headed down to leave Leroy Fer with a tap-in to put the home side into a 1-0 lead.
https://twitter.com/Andrew_Heaton/status/782183336416509953
Half-time: An awful first half an hour from The Reds, probably the worst of the season, but there were some more encouraging signs towards the end of the first half. The fact they kept it at just 1-0 represented a positive, in all honesty.
#LFC started to improve at the end of the first half but the side look completely unrecognisable from the previous four wins.
— Glenn Price (@GlennPrice94) October 1, 2016
54′: Philippe Coutinho failed to restore hope, blasting his free-kick straight into the wall, but it bounced back to Jordan Henderson who swung in a cross and it was glanced in by Roberto Firmino for the equaliser.
Well, hello Liverpool
— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) October 1, 2016
58′: Liverpool had started to move through the gears, as Henderson fed Coutinho and the Brazilian sent a curling effort just wide of the post.
Different game now. Liverpool all over Swansea. This isn't going to finish 1-1
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) October 1, 2016
70′: James Milner stole possession and fed it back to Sadio Mane but his shot was blocked by Kyle Naughton, as Liverpool continued to crank up the heat on their opponents.
Milner does great to win the ball then sets up Mane (might have shot). Naughton blocks. Wasn't a great cut back.
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) October 1, 2016
84′: The return of ‘Penaltypool’ as Michael Oliver gave The Reds a penalty, after some great work by Firmino, and Mr. Reliable Milner stepped up and converted the penalty to put the away side in front.
The bassist who never gets any credit steps forward from the back of the stage. That bassist is James Milner. His band is called Anthrax.
— Simon Hughes (@Simon_Hughes__) October 1, 2016
Ok, I've taken this theme too far.
— Simon Hughes (@Simon_Hughes__) October 1, 2016
89′: Liverpool continued to press for a third Daniel Sturridge the first to go close, before Coutinho had a shot blocked and then Jack Cork nearly prodded into his own net. But The Reds manage to see out their 2-1 win.
You could argue that they needed a win like that as much as they needed another four goal domination, was great to see Jürgen’s lads digging deep to take something from the game and recover from an awful first half. Up the Reds!
https://twitter.com/TheAnfieldWrap/status/782214673773039618
Come from behind away win against a bottom half club. Tick. Was going to say that is the final frontier, but that would be defending set pieces.
I don’t find anything boring about James Milner.
I can’t do any more early kick offs without alcohol.
Love these timelines after the match Josh. Great work. Keep it up.